The Golden Name Day

While her mother is recovering from an illness, nine-year-old Nancy travels to her mother’s childhood friends who are like family. “Grandpa” and “Grandma” Benson, together with “Aunt Martha” and young “cousins” Sigrid, Elsa, and Helga, welcome Nancy into their Swedish-American heritage of songs, traditions, and name day parties. Enthralled by the notion of name days, Nancy eagerly looks for her name in the Swedish Almanac, but without success. The Benson family—young and old—rally in search of an answer to her dilemma. In the meantime, Nancy keeps busy meeting the household pets; crafting May baskets with the other girls; taking trips to the farm with Aunt Martha, and helping Grandpa Benson make his “best name day cake ever.” It seems like each week brings new activities to enjoy—but she is no closer to having a name day of her own!

In this Newbery Honor book, Jennie D. Lindquist draws on her experience growing up in a family with two sets of holidays, both American and Swedish. She portrays Nancy’s year-long visit in such a household with authenticity and charm.